Katharine Jefferts Schori
Sermon at Washington National Cathedral
In this congregation, I can probably ask how the wine grape harvest is going in the south of France or in Napa, and somebody will be able to tell us. Out of curiosity, I went looking on the internet yesterday, and discovered that in northern California this year the harvest of some wine grapes started […]
Service of Repentance, St. Thomas, Philadelphia
The great dream of God has always been quite clear to the prophets. Isaiah’s vision of delivering good news to the oppressed, liberty to the captives, and comfort the grieving is a whole-hearted and full-bodied expression of abundant life, in right relationship to God and neighbor. Micah says that all that’s really important in life is to do justice, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly in God’s presence. Amos has choice words for those who “sell the righteous for silver and the needy for a pair of sandals” [Amos 2:6], he reminds his hearers that God will not let such transgressions go unpunished.
Sabbath summer
How did you spend your summer vacation? I started mine by devouring several books I hadn’t had time to read the rest of the year. I’m still working on a couple of others. That reality brought to mind the saying of my ninth-grade algebra teacher: “Vacations are for doing what you don’t normally do — […]
The Hobart Lecture
Greetings from Episcopalians in all the other parts of this Church: in Micronesia, Taiwan, Honduras, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Haiti (our largest diocese), Dominican Republic, Virgin Islands (both US and British), Puerto Rico, and the Convocation of American Churches in Europe, as well as the other 99 dioceses in the United States. They pray for you, […]
Sermon at All Saints' Episcopal Church in Littleton, New Hampshire
I’m going to talk about politics this morning. But please wait a few minutes if you have the urge to get up and walk out. I’m sure many people watched or listened to the debates Friday night, or read about them Saturday morning. The campaign rhetoric is filled with plans and promises. Those of us […]
The Presiding Bishop's Address at the Church of Sweden Synod Opening
I bring you greetings from members of the Episcopal Church in Micronesia, Taiwan, Honduras, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and the Convocation of American Churches in Europe, as well as 100 dioceses in the United States. The Episcopal Church exists in those many places both as a result of the […]
Invitation to Confession at the Church of Sweden's Synod Opening
The counsel of Gamaliel is frequently invoked when part of a community wants to try something new: “wait and see what happens. If it is of God it will prosper, if not, it will fail.” I am sure that someone raised it 50 years ago when this Church sought to ordain women. Other proponents probably […]
The Presiding Bishop’s Statement on Recent Vote of the House of Bishops
The House of Bishops worked carefully and prayerfully to consider the weighty matter of Bishop Duncan. The conversation was holy, acknowledging the pain of our deliberations as well as the gratitude many have felt over the years for their relationships with, and the ministry of, Robert Duncan. The House concluded, however, that his actions over […]
Holy Cross Day in the Diocese of Georgia
There’s a fascinating dialogue going on in the gospel today between Jesus and the crowd, who struggle to understand who he is. Jesus tells them, walk in the light while you have the chance, believe in the light, give your hearts to it, so that you may become children of light. And then the rest […]
Of a Saint I
I want to invite you on a road trip – a hagiographical road trip. We’ve just heard the readings for a saint. A saint is one who is on the road, which is what the early Christians called the way of following Jesus. It’s the journey all of us have been invited to join, and […]